Slow painting

Thursday 25 March 2010

Bit by bit


A scant hour was all the time I had at the weekend for getting to the allotment. I did swither as to whether I should go, but I did, and was glad of it. By the time I walked there and back I had 40 minutes left for digging. The great blessing of this cold winter is that even the weeds have been stopped in their tracks, but that can't last much longer. So the obvious task to tackle first was the mess of dead, frosted red clover. It hasn't rained for weeks, and the withered plants were dry and stringy. But I dug and chopped and dug again, and cleared a patch that looks as if a bit of progress is being made.


The drought of March has broken at last, a little ahead of Chaucer's timing of 'Aprille with his shoures soote'. I'll bet those weeds are even now planning their takeover.

11 comments:

Jacqui said...

That earth is looking great Linda - its getting exciting again !

Kris said...

Ah - the siren scent of freshly dug soil. You can practically smell its perennial promise of lush growth. Who can resist such a marvelous tonic after a cold winter. :-D

walk2write said...

I'm glad you're seeing some progress there. I looked back at some of your earlier photos of the snow. You must be thrilled to see soil and green things again. If thoughts can make weeds vanish, you won't have a problem with them this year.

L. D. said...

Yes, weed seeds can be revived so quickly with just a little rain and sunshine. I hope you didn't over work yourself.

Peggy said...

Hi Lynda, great to see you back for the new season, you made short work of that bed, all ready for planting.

Jo said...

It will soon be done if you do it little and often. I'd rather spend time doing things, rather than rushing to get everything done all at once as it ends up feeling like a chore.

Smalltown RN said...

Yes yard work...and gardening can be a lot of work but so worthwhile and satisfying in the end....Spring has certainly arrived where I live...so much so that the Hummingbirds are back..it's rather early for them...actually almost a month early...so today I got out two of my hummingbird feeders and put them out...I have already spotted one.

I hope you do make it out to British Columbia some day soon and over to Vancouver Island...see the whales, dolphins and well if you like fishing...so much to see and do...and great hiking....

Happy weekend to you...

Rafael said...

An upside-down world this year! Here in Montpellier, soil is so wet and cold ... I cannot dig it yet. And weather forecast talk about a new cold wave for tomorrow :( Patience!

HappyMouffetard said...

That looks like nice soil. Th weeds will love it! It's a good job weeding is relaxing - I spend an awful lot of time doing it.

HappyMouffetard said...

Sorry Linda - please delete my last comment - got my commenters wrong. Apologies!

I'll try again...
Yes - I'd recommend both. 'Bulb' is full of beautiful photos and descriptions - rather like a very up-market plant catalogue. 'Nature's Engraver' was really interesting - Jenny Uglow writes so well.

donna said...

I've never seen lovelier photos of dirt:)

And may I say, I luv the word swither. Had to look it up -- to be indecisive or in a state of confusion; to dither. A common Scottish word, I'm assuming.

We had 5 inches of snow this morning. A wet snow that's clinging to everything and looking beautiful.

donna